Corporate Sustainability Reporting, Corporate Accounting - Associate

About this role

Business Unit Overview:

BlackRock Finance and Strategy consists of Finance professionals in disciplines such as Controllers, Financial Planning and Analysis, Treasury, Tax, Regulatory Reporting, Strategy and Development, Accounting Operations, and Corporate Accounting. This role is part of the Controllers Group based in Edinburgh and Mumbai and sits within the Global Corporate Sustainability Controllers (‘GCSC’) team. GCSC is a relatively new team with responsibility for both voluntary and mandatory sustainability reporting globally in respect of BlackRock’s corporate entities, as well as the ownership / collation of BlackRock’s Greenhouse Gas (‘GHG’) Inventory. The team also has responsibility for establishing and operating the control and governance framework in respect of BlackRock’s GHG Inventory and corporate sustainability reporting, and for identifying and impact assessing upcoming regulations.

In its day-to-day activities the team has significant interaction with the US based Corporate Sustainability team, which has responsibility for, amongst other things, ownership of the firm’s environmental / sustainability strategy. The GCSC team offers an excellent opportunity to interact with a broad array of BlackRock teams, including the Government Affairs and Public Policy Group, BlackRock Transformation Office, the Risk and Quantitative Analysis team, Legal and Compliance, Company Secretariat, Sustainable & Transition Solutions, and Financial and Prudential Reporting, as well as the other global Finance and Strategy teams.

Purpose/Background:

An accountant/sustainability specialist is required to join the GCSC team, based in Mumbai and reporting into the mandatory sustainability reporting Director based in Edinburgh. The team currently comprises seven employees, based in Edinburgh, including the Managing Director leading the team.  This role will build out the GCSC team presence in Mumbai, sitting alongside the wider Finance and Strategy team in Mumbai.   

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintaining compliance with entity level sustainability reporting requirements, including working with internal teams to draft reporting, establishing appropriate governance structures to obtain approval and sign off, and creating and owning process documentation for each regulatory reporting requirement.
• Performing readiness for upcoming sustainability reporting requirements, including monitoring the Securities Exchange Commission, the International Sustainability Standards Board, and European Financial Reporting Advisory Group advancements in relation to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. 
• Partnering with Financial Controls Reporting to build out the controls’ framework for sustainability reporting and implementing controls in AuditBoard.
• Preparing materials for presentation at key committees such as the Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Committee, Board/Audit Committees, Risk/Regulatory oversight committees, etc.
• Preparing materials and participating in presentations to further educate internal stakeholders on the regulatory sustainability reporting agenda and value prospect of the GCSC team.
• Liaising with internal and external audit in relation to BlackRock’s corporate sustainability mandatory reporting, including the ongoing maintenance of robust ‘audit-ready’ support for corporate sustainability disclosures.
• Supporting stakeholder queries directed to the GCSC team.
• Contributing to team meetings and enhancing team governance.
• Other BAU activities, ad hoc tasks and project work as required.

Development Value:

This position will allow the individual to become involved in a new and fast evolving area of corporate reporting with excellent opportunities to work with colleagues from across a number of business functions. GCSC is a small team so there will be many opportunities to get involved in various aspects of the team’s work. The role will also offer insight into GHG reporting protocols and how sustainability is impacting BlackRock beyond Finance and Strategy.

Experience/Competencies:

As this is an emerging area of corporate reporting, some competencies are required whilst others would be advantageous but are not prohibitive to being successful in the role.

Required

• Ability to adapt to changing priorities in a rapidly evolving reporting environment
• Excellent powerpoint skills and strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel/Office
• Experience in analyzing and impact assessing principles-based standards/regulations
• Experience of report writing at a standard suitable for external publication
• Ability to clearly and confidently communicate in verbal and written form with colleagues of different levels
• Strong understanding of robust reporting controls including design and implementation
• Highly organized and methodical with the ability to manage multiple deliverables

Preferred

• Prior experience/strong interest in corporate sustainability reporting
• Experience/understanding of the GHG protocol
• Experience in reporting of non-financial data

Skills/Qualifications:

• CA/ACA qualified or equivalent qualification (desirable not essential)
• 4-8 years of accounting/policy experience (ideally Financial Services)
• Organized and methodical, possessing attention to detail, good analytical skills and the ability to work to tight deadlines

Our benefits
To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.